Fluid lift and stabilizer for washers and the like



NGV- 11, 1941 R. l. KLlPs'rElN Erm. 2,252,238

FLUID LIFT AND STABILIZ'ER FOR WASHERS AAND THE LIKE Filed April` 15,1940 a w @yz/ E Z.

Patented Nov. 11, 1941 FLUID LIFT AND STABILIZEB F03 WASHEBS AND TBELIKE Raleigh I. Klipstein, Des Plaines, and Walter Ervin Klipstein,Chicago, Ill.

Application `april 15, 1940, serial No. 329,836

' 1s claims. (cl. 18s- 151) Our invention relates to a lift andstabilizer device which can be used on washing machines, ironingmachines, hospital beds and other portable castored devices.

One object of the invention is to provide a iiuid operated liftstructure associated with the castor of each leg of a washer or thelike, that is, .it nay be` operated by either liquid, `such as oil; orgas, such as air, and when operated is eiective to lock the castoragainst rotation and then to elevate the leg of the device relativeV thelegs may be elevated and such elevation willV stabilize the washer orother castored device so I that there is equal pressure engagement ofeach castor with. the iioor surface, regardless of the contour of suchsurface.

Still another object is to provide a fluid lift` structure for castoreddevices wherein the stabilizing action of our invention substantiallyeliminates vibration being transmitted from the machinery of thecastored device to the iioor surface through a cushioning action.

Still a further object is to provide a modied form of structure in whichthe iiuid lift elevates the castor and leg of the castored devicerelative to the floor surface instead of locking the castor and thenelevating the leg relative to it.

With these and other objects in View. our invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of ourdevice whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter`more fully set forth, pointed out in our claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawingg' wherein:

Figure 1 is a'perspective view of a washing machine representative of acastored device to which our uid lift and stabilizer mechanism has beenapplied;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through a uid pump whichwe find suitable for pumping fluid to the lifting device on each leg ofthe washing machine; Y

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on a still larger scalethan Figure 2, showing one of the iluid lifts and castors in a leg ofthe Washer, the parts being at an intermediate castor wheel lockingposition, with dotted lines illustrating initial position.

, Figure 4 is a similar sectional view showing certain parts of Figure 3in a different position, as assumed by operating the fluid lift deviceto a lifting and stabilizing position, and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a modiiied form of :duidlift and castor.

On the accompanying drawing,` we have used the reference character W toindicate generally a washer or any suitable castored device to which ourfluid lift and stabilizer has been applied- The legs of the washer W areindicated at I0. Each leg I0, as shown in Figure 3, includes a liItdevice including an outer cylinder I2, an inner cylinder I3 and a pistonI4. 'I'he cylinder I3 telescopeswithin the cylinder I2 and the piston I4is slidable within the cylinder I3.

The cylinders I2 and I3 normally assume the position shown in Figure 3,with the weight of the leg I0 supported through a washer I5 and a strapI 5 on a lower head I1 of the cylinder I2. The cylinder I3 also has alower head indicated at I8 and ball-bearings I9 are interposed betweenthe heads I1 and I8. The cylinder I2 in turn is supported on a castorwheel 20 by the usual yoke 2| and axle pin 22. Y

A piston rod 23 depends from the piston I4 and has a reduced lower end24 terminating in a head 25. 'I'he head 25 is adapted to engage thecaster wheel 2li for the purpose of locking it against rotation when ouriluid lift is operated, as will hereinafter appear. Such operation iseffected by introducing fluid, such as air or oil 26, into the cylinderI3 between a head 21 thereon and the piston I4. A return spring 28 isprovided for the pistonlll and above the piston We provide a bumperspring 29.

For supplying fluid to the cylinder head 21, we provide a plurality ofdistributor pipes 30 connected with a cross fitting 3|. The tting 3| isscrewed into a. base 32 of a pump P having a reservoir cylinder 33mounted thereon. The cylinder 33 is provided with a closure head 34.

Within the reservoir cylinder 33, we provide a pump cylinder 35 in whichis slidably mounted a plunger 36. The upper end of the plunger extendsthrough a packing nut 31 to an operating handle 38. rlhe pump cylinder35 is vented at 39 and the reservoir cylinder 33 is vented to atmosphereat 40. A filler plug for the reservoir is indicated at 4I.

In the pump base 32 an inlet valve 42 and an outlet valve 43 areprovided. As the plunger 36 is pulled upwardly by manipulating thehandle 38, oil is drawn downwardly through the inlet valve 42 and intothe pump cylinder 35. When the handle 38 is moved downwardly, loil isforced out of the cylinder 35 by the plunger 36 through the outlet valve43 to the cross iitting 3| the distributor pipes 30, and into each ofthe lift cylinders I3.

The outlet valve 43 holds the oil against return. Passageways 44 and 45connect the space between the outlet valve 43 and the tting 3| with theinterior of the reservoir cylinder 33. `Areturn valve 45 is introducedbetween the passageways 44 and 45 to vprevent such return when the valveis closed.

In Figure 5 we show a modied construction it against rotation.

wherein a single cylinder 41 is provided instead of the double cylinderI2I3 of Figure 3. The cylinder 41 has .an upper head 48 connected withthe distributor'pipe 30 and connected by a strap 49 with a washer 50.The washer 50 surrounds the cylinder 41 and ball-bearings 5I areinterposed between thiswasher and a yoke 52 of the castor wheel 2l). Thetop or cross piece of the yoke 52 is indicated at '53. The balls 5I reston the cross piece 43 and the cross piece in turn is secured to thecylinder 41 by a sleeve 54 and a lock nut 55.

A piston 56 is provided in the cylinder 41 and a piston rod 51 extendsfrom the piston slidably through the sleeve 54. The lower end of thepiston rod is provided with a foot 58 adapted to contact with a floorsurface, indicated at 59 (the normal position of the piston 56 and thefoot 56 being shown by dotted lines).

Practical operation In the operation of the type of ourirfluid lift andstabilizer shown in Figures 1 to 4ginclusive, the head of the piston I4normally assumes the position indicated by the dotted line I4a and theenlargement 25 normally assumes the dotted position indicated at 25a,under constraint of the spring 2B. In these positions the weight of thelegs I is imposed through the washer I5, the strap I6, the head 21, theinner cylinder I3, the ballr bearings I9 and the outer cylinder head I1to the castor yoke 2| and the castor Wheel 20. Accordingly, the washingmachine may be readily transferred from one position to another asdesired.

When the Washing machine is to be used, then the valve 46 may be closedand the pump handle 38 manipulated for pumping oil to each of thecylinders I3.

The first action that takes vplace is lowering of the piston I4 from thedotted position of Figure 2 to the full line position, withwthe shoulderformed by the transition from the lower' end of the piston rod 23 to itsreduced portion 24 engaging the cylinder head I1. In this position, theenlargement on the piston rod 23-24 engages the periphery of the castorwheel 20 to firmly lock Further operation of the pump P causes the innercylinder I3 to be moved upwardly relative to the piston I4, for instanceto the position shown in Figure 4, the distance of motion beingindicated by the dimension a. The weight of the leg I0 is now interposedthrough the washer I5,

the strap I6, the cylinder head 21, the oil 26 between it and the pistonI4 and the shoulder of the piston rod 23 against the cylinder head I1and the castor yoke and castor wheel 2I and 20. In this position each ofthe legs I0 is supported and cushioned on the oil distributed to thecylinders I3 by the pipes 36 and the cross fitting 3|. Any castor whichis over a low spot in the floor surface 59 will be projected furtherthan the others from its leg I0, and there will be equal weight on eachcastorl thereby compensating for any uneveness of the oor surface. Also,each of the legs I0 is cushioned on the oil Within the cylinders I3 andthe transmission of vibration from the machinery of the washer W to thefloor surface is thereby minimized.

When it is desirable to lower the washer W back onto the castor wheels20 and unlock them so that they may rotate freely, it is merelynecessary to open the valve 46 slightly to permit return ow of the oil26 from each of the cylinders I3 to the reservoir cylinder 33. Theweight 25 of the piston rods to the dotted position of Figure 3. l l

With the type of construction shown in Figure 5, the introduction offluid pressure to the cylinder 41 moves the foot 58 into contact withthe floor surface 59 and then elevates the entire assembly of leg I0,cylinder 41, strap 49, castor yoke 52 and castor 20 relative to thefloor surface. The washer W is now supported by the piston rods 51 andthe castors are free of the floor, so that the washer will not roll fromits supported position. When the lift devices of Figure 5 are in thefull line position illustrated, then stabilization is effected in thesame manner as described in connection with Figures 1 to 4.

Our fluid lift, although it has been described as utilizing oil as theiiuid under pressure, may instead use a gas such as air, therebyeliminating the necessity of keeping a supply of oil in the mechanismand providing a greater cushioning effect.

Although We have described and illustrated our device in connection witha washing machine, it is obvious that it may be used on any type ofcastored device. When used in connection with a hospital bed or awheeled device for transporting articles which should not be jarred, itsuse is ideal, as the enlargement 25 on the lower end of the piston rod24 may be omitted and the structure thus used merely as a lift andstabilizer. mit movement of the bed or wheeled device across oor cracksand any iioor surface which is uneven without any tilting or rocking ofthe device, as the castors or wheels conform to the surface. At alltimes there will be equal pressure on each castor Wheel, thus resultingin the desired conformation to the floor surface, with the fluid passingfreely from a cylinder I3 over a high spot to a cylinder I3 over a lowspot. Thus the castors are automatically self leveling, whether ourinvention is used in connection with a portable wheeled or castoreddevice omitting the locking feature of the head 25, or whether thelocking feature is utilized for lifting and stabilizing a washer or thelikein a predetermined position.

Some changes may be'made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of our device without departing from the real spirit and purposeof our invention, and it is our intention to cover by our claims anymodified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which maybe reasonably included within their scope without sacrificing any of theadvantages thereof.

We claim-as our invention:

l. In a fluid lift and stabilizer for Washers and the like, a castor oneach leg of the Washer, uid operated means on each leg for locking thecastor wheel against rotation and thereafter elevating the leg relativeto said castor wheel, a single pump, and distributing pipes connectingsaid pump with each of said fluid operated means to pump uid thereto andthereby effect such elevation.

2. In a uid lift and stabilizer for a device having a plurality ofcastors to support the device, uid operated means adjacent each castorfor locking the castor wheel against rotation and thereafter elevatingthe device relative to the castor wheels, a single pump, anddistributing pipes connecting each of said fluid operated The cushioningand stabilizing effect permeans with said pump to pump fluid to all ofthe fluid operated means and thereby effect such locking of said castorwheels and elevation of said device.

3. In a fluid lift and stabilizer of the character disclosed, a devicehaving legs, a castor on each of said legs, fluid operated means on eachof said legs for locking the castor Wheel of the castor thereon and forelevating the leg relative tors, each of said fluid operated meansincluding an element to engage the castor wheel of the castor to preventrotation thereof when the fluid operated means is effective to causesuch elevation, and a fluid pump to pump f'luid to all of said fluidoperated means.

5. In a fluid lift and stabilizer for a movable device, wheels fornormally supporting said device, fluid operated means associated witheach wheel to elevate said device relative to the wheels, said fluidoperated means each including an element to first engage the Wheel topositively prevent rotation thereof when the fluid operated means iseffective and to thereafter cause such elevation, and a fluid pump topump fluid to all of said fluid operated means.

6. In a fluid lift and stabilizer for a movable device, Wheels fornormally supporting said device, fluid operated means assocated witheach wheel to elevate said device relative to the wheels said meansincluding an element for each wheel, each element being movable withrelation to the device and operable to flrst engage the periphery of theWheel and then effect movement of the device relative to the elementwith the element supported on the wheel, and a fluid pump to base, aplunger in said cylinder, a handle for operating said plunger, adistributing pipe connected with said pump cylinder, a return passagewayin said base from said distributor pipes to said reservoir, and a valvecontrolling said passageway.

9. In a fluid lift and stabilizing device for castored articles, acylinder associated with each castor thereof. a piston in each of saidcylinders, a piston rod projecting from each of said cylinders andhaving a head thereon, and means for introducing fluid pressure to saidcylinders to extend said piston rods and cause said heads to engage thecastors and thereafter lift the device relative to the castors.

10. In a fluid lift device for castored articles, a cylinder associatedwith each castor thereof, a piston in each of said cylinders, a pistonrod projecting from each of said cylinders, and means for introducingfluid pressure to said cylinders to extend said piston rods and engagethem with the castors and thereafter lift the device relative to thecastors.

11. In a fluid lift and stabilizing device for castored articles, acylinder for each castor and opening upwardly, a second cylinder in saidfirst cylinder, a piston in said second cylinder having a rod extendingto a position to engage the caster wheel and lock it against rotationupon introductionof fluid pressure into said second cylinder, saidsecond cylinder being connected with the leg of the device to elevatesaid leg relative to said castor wheel after said castor Wheel has beenlocked against rotation and further fluid pressure is introduced intosaid second cylinder, and a pump and distributor pipe system connectedwith said second cylinders to effect such introduction of fluid pressurethereto.

12. In a fluid lift device for castored washers and the Ilike,a cylinderfor each castor and opening upwardly, a second cylinder in said rstcylinder, a piston in said second cylinder having pump fluid to all ofsaid fluid operatedV means.

7. In a fluid lift and stabilizer for a movable device, Wheels fornormally supporting said device, fluid operated means associated witheach wheel to elevate said device relative to said wheels, each of saidfluid operated means including an element to engage the Wheel to preventrotation thereof when the fluid operated means is effective to causesuch elevation, a fluid pump to pump fluid to all of said fluid operatedmeans,

said fluid pump comprising a reservoir having a base, inlet and outletvalves in said base, a pump cylinder extending from said base and upthrough said reservoir, a plunger in said cylinder. a handle foroperating said plunger, a distributing pipe connected with said pumpcylinder, a return connection from said distributor pipes to saidreservoir, and a lock valve in said return connection.

8. In a fluid lift for a movable device, castors for normally supportingsaid device, fluid operated means associated with each castor to lockthe castor wheel of the castor to prevent rotation thereof and toelevate said device relative to said castors, a fluid pump comprising areservoir having a base, inlet and outlet valves in said base, a pumpcylinder extending from said a piston rod extending downwardly to engagethe castor wheel and lock it against rotation, said second cylinderbeing connected with the leg of the washer to elevate said-secondcylinder relative to said ilrst cylinder and thereby elevate said legrelative to said castor Wheel after said castor wheel has been lockedagainst rotation and further flud pressure is introduced into saidsecond cylinder, and a pump and distributor pipe system connected withsaid second cylinders to supply fluid pressure thereto.

13. In a fluid lift and stabilizing device for castored articles, acylinder connected with each castor wheel and opening upwardly, a secondcylinder in said first cylinder, a piston' in said second cylinderhaving a rod extended to a position to engage said castor wheel and lockit against rotation when fluid pressure is introduced to said secondcylinder, said second cylinder being connected with the leg of thewasher and said rod having a shoulder to engage said first cylinder inthe castor wheel locking position of said piston and rod to elevate saidleg relative to said castor wheel upon further introduction of fluidpressure into said second cylinder, and a pump and distributor pipesystem connected with said second cylinders to supply fluid pressurethereto.

RALEIGH I. KLIPSTEIN. WALTER ERVIN KLIPSTEIN.

